The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has cautioned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) against adopting a nonchalant attitude during the defence of their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
Senator Akpabio conveyed this stern warning on Tuesday during an interactive session organized by the Committee on Appropriations themed “2024 Budget: Budget and Budgetary Processes, Delivering Improved Outcomes in 2024”, at the National Assembly.
The Senate President, represented by the Deputy Senate President, Jubril Barau, emphasized that any laxity shown by individuals or agencies in defending their budgets would result in unfavorable consequences.
While reacting, the Minister for Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, highlighted the pressing fiscal constraints in Nigeria and underscored the necessity to pivot towards concessional, cost-effective, and climate-related funding solutions.
The Senate President reiterated the National Assembly’s staunch stance against lackadaisical behavior among government functionaries across all MDAs concerning their budgetary defenses, affirming their commitment to maintaining the January to December budget cycle.
Further amplifying this position, the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan, underscored the significance of the occasion as a continuation of the 10th National Assembly’s drive towards an inclusive budget process for the nation’s benefit and the adherence to the January–December budget cycle commitment.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu at a joint sitting of the National Assembly presented a proposed 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion and the Senate commenced debates on the general principles of the budget on November 30, 2023, and subsequently passed it for the second reading on December 1, 2023.
